About the author  ⁄ Elizabeth I. Nadelman, Ph.D.

Elizabeth I. Nadelman is a Materials Engineer at WJE. Her practice areas include concrete materials evaluations, testing, and troubleshooting, with a focus on UHPC. (enadelman@wje.com)

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is an emerging class of concrete characterized by ultra-high compressive strength, significant post-cracking ductility, and exceptional durability compared to conventional concrete. UHPC is usually distinguished from conventional or high-performance concrete based on its compressive strength, which can range from a minimum of 17,000 psi to more than 30,000 psi. In addition, it also often exhibits post-cracking tensile strengths over 1,000 psi, a more than ten-fold decrease in chloride diffusion rates compared to conventional concrete, and essentially no susceptibility to deterioration by freezing and thawing (Russell & Graybeal, 2013). Most UHPC is also self-consolidating.

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STRUCTURE magazine